43990359

Discourse, 2 July 1839

 
Holy Priesthood

In the early 1830s, often referred to an “order of men set apart for sacred offices”; also referred more generally to power or authority from God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands to adult male members of the church in good standing...

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 & the Holy Ghost that they have power thus to speak. What art thou O man but dust & from  whom dost thou received thy power & blessings but from God, then O ye Twelve

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

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 notice this [drawing of a key] key

In the early church, the term keys referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth “those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of...

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 & be wise  for Christ sake & your own souls sake. Ye are not sent out to be taught but to teach let every man be sober  be vigilent & let all his words be seasoned with grace & keep in mind that it is a day of warning & not of many  words. Act honest before God & man beware of gentile

Those who were not members of the House of Israel. More specifically, members of the church identified gentiles as those whose lineage was not of the Jews or Lamanites (understood to be the American Indians in JS’s day). Certain prophecies indicated that ...

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 sophestry such as bowing & scraping unto men in wholm  you have no confidence be honest open & frank in all your intercourse with mankind
O ye Twelve and all saints, profit by this important key [drawing of a key] that in all your trials troubles &,  temptations, afflictions bonds imprisionment & death see to it that you do not betray heaven, that  you do not betray Jesus Christ. that you do not betray your Brethren, & that you do not betray the revela tions of God whether in the bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine & Covenants or any of the word of God.  yea in all your kicking, & floundering see to it that you do not this thing lest innocent blood be found  in your skirts & you go down to hell. We may ever know by this sign that there is danger of our  being led to a fall & aposticy. when we give way to the devil so as to neglect the first known duty  but whatever you do do not betray your Friend [p. [87]]

Facts

Editorial Title
Discourse, 2 July 1839
ID #
475